Journal of International Obstetrics and Gynecology ›› 2024, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (4): 395-400.doi: 10.12280/gjfckx.20240269

• Gynecological Disease & Related Research: Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Hormonal Pathways and Regulatory Factors That Lead to Endometrial Disease

GUO Xi, WEI Jia, YANG Yong-xiu()   

  1. The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China (GUO Xi, WEI Jia); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology, Lanzhou 730000, China (YANG Yong-xiu)
  • Received:2024-03-28 Published:2024-08-15 Online:2024-07-25
  • Contact: YANG Yong-xiu, E-mail: yongxiuyang@163.com

Abstract:

The development and function of the endometrium are highly dependent on the cyclic secretion of steroid hormones and the expression of their homologous receptors, the most important of which are estrogen and progesterone and their receptors. Estrogen and progesterone enable the endometrium to have a proliferative and secretory phase, maintain a normal menstrual cycle, and prepare for pregnancy. Dysregulation of estrogen and progesterone can lead to a series of diseases such as endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometriosis, causing serious health problems. Under pathological conditions, estrogen interacts with estrogen receptors to promote excessive proliferation of the endometrium, which is closely related to the increased risk of endometrial lesions. However, progesterone can effectively inhibit the proliferative effect of estrogen, but when the expression of progesterone receptors is abnormal or when progesterone resistance occurs, it can lead to progesterone dysfunction. Effective treatment of endometrial-related diseases depends on the understanding of hormone pathways. This article reviews the hormone pathways and regulatory factors that cause endometrial diseases, with a view to providing reference for the clinical development of new drugs that can effectively prevent and improve treatment outcomes of endometrial diseases.

Key words: Endometrial neoplasms, Endometrial hyperplasia, Endometriosis, Gonadal steroid hormones, Signal transduction, Molecular targeted therapy